The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 384

Chapter 293. Three Weeks.

Chapter 293: Three Weeks…

Ethan

The reflection in my office glass doesn’t let me lie to myself; I have a faint mark on my cheekbone.

Nothing serious… But it’s there, visible. My knuckles… worse… Red, slightly swollen.

I run my thumb over one of them and clenchrmy jaw; it burns… Fine, let it burn… I deserve it, or

rather… He deserved it.

I slump into my chair, turning it slightly as I try to focus on the screen in front of me. Emails,

contracts, numbers. Everything is the same, everything should feel normal. But it isn’t, because my mind keeps returning to the same place. The blow, his face, the sharp sound of the impact…/

I close my eyes for a second, and there it is again. Clara, her back, the mark.

My breathing becomes heavier; no, there’s no regret… Not a single one. If it happened again… I would do it again, and maybe worse.

I slowly exhale and run a hand over my face.

I need to focus. I need to put this behind me. At least for now.

The phone rings on the desk.

glance at the screen. I see her name: Clara.

My expression changes instantly.

I answer.

“Hi, honey.”

“Hi…” Her voice is softer today. “Are you busy?”

I look at the papers in front of me. Then I close them without a second thought.

“Never too much for you.”

I hear her smile on the other end.

“I wanted to know if you could come with me today.

“Where?”

“To see the wedding planner… we need to finalize some details. I want you to be with me.”

A short pause.

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Chapter 293 Three Weeks

“Oh, honey, I…”

“I want you to be there.”

I don’t hesitate.

“Of course I’ll come.”

“Perfect… I’ll see you in an hour.”

“I’ll be there.”

!’hang up. And for the first time all day… my chest feels a little lighter.

The place is elegant, discreet. Exactly the kind of place Clara would choose.

When I arrive, she’s already there. Sitting, waiting for me. And when she looks up and sees me…

Her expression changes immediately, she stands up… She walks toward me. And then I notice it,

her frown. Her gaze sweeping over my face.

“What happened to you?”

There it is, the question. I knew it would come… I barely smile, downplaying it.

“Nothing.”

“Ethan…”

She moves closer. Her hand rises to my face, gently brushing my cheekbone.

“It’s nothing.”

I hold her wrist gently.

“I bumped into a door.”

The excuse comes easily. Too easy, but she looks at me unconvinced.

“A door?”

I nod.

“Yes.”

Silence.

Clara narrows her eyes slightly. As if she’s reading something beyond the obvious.

“Don’t lie to me.”

Her voice is low, but firm.

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Chapter 293, Three Weeks.

I hold her gaze, without hesitation.

“I’m not lying to you.”

Another pause, longer. Heavier… And for a second… I think she’s going to insist. That she’s going to

push harder, but she doesn’t. She sighs softly and lowers her hand.

“Okay…”

She doesn’t sound completely convinced, but she lets it go. For now.

I lean in and place a kiss on her lips.

“I’m fine.” I whisper, and this time… It’s not a lie.

The wedding planner arrives a few minutes later, an organized, precise woman. With a folder full of

details.

“It’s so good to see you all!”

She smiles.

“We’re in the home stretch.”

She’s excited, just like Clara. I am too, of course I am… I’m going to marry the woman of my life

again, but… these past few days I’ve been overwhelmed with stress.

Clara sits next to me and I take her hand under the table. She intertwines her fingers with mine,

and that simple gesture… anchors me.

The meeting progresses, colors, flowers… Location, guests. Every detail is reviewed, adjusted, perfected. Clara is involved in everything, asks questions, gives her opinion, makes decisions, and I … I observe her more than I speak. Because seeing her like this… Calm, focused, excited… After

everything that’s happened… It feels like breathing again.

“So,” says the organizer, checking her schedule, “if everything is approved…” She looks up. “We can

confirm the final date.”

I feel Clara squeeze my hand, and I look at her. She looks back at me and nods.

“Yes.”

She smiles.

“Perfect.”

She makes a note. And then she says the words that make everything feel… real.

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